Bionic limb system

Abstract

The invention relates to a prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device (a bionic limb system device) for restoring lost functionality to a patient that suffers from at least partial loss of a limb, the device comprising a sound sensing system that communicates with a controller to generate a signal to control the device which can include a defined sensing element, a defined type of a sensor, of a communication interface and/or which can be insulated and/or wherein a controller can command an actuator and/or set a defined parameter. The device can be controllable by a defined sound; it can be coupled with an electrocomponent and/or mechanocomponent. A prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device control method and a sonometry method are proposed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device for restoring lost functionality to a patient that suffers from at least partial loss of a limb, said device characterised in that it comprises: a sound sensing system that communicates with a controller to generate a signal to control said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device. 
     
     
         2 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , including a sound sensing element, wherein at least one said sound sensing element is selected from the group consisting of microphones, hydrophones, coils, capacitors, optical systems, Hall effect sensors, piezo-electric sensors, electro-mechanical sensors, antenna sensors, analog sensors, digital sensors, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 2 , wherein said sound sensing coil has a pole area pad. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one component is provided with an insulation, wherein at least one said insulation is selected from the group consisting of thermal insulations, electrical insulations, dielectric insulations, magnetic insulations, vibrations insulations, acoustic insulations, insulations against gases, insulations against liquids, insulations against moisture, insulations against biological influences, insulations against chemicals, insulations against dirt, insulations against aseptic environments, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller commands an actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller sets a parameter, wherein at least one said parameter is selected from the group consisting of velocity, force, acceleration, deceleration, action time, pause length, angular velocity, two dimensional motion, three dimensional motion, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, wherein at least one said sensor is selected from the group consisting of acoustic sensors, electric field potential sensors, position sensors, light sensors, electromagnetic sensors, magnetic sensors, temperature sensors, biologic functions sensors, antenna sensors, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface to communicate with an exterior computing system. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one said sound is selected from the group consisting of human voices, sounds emitted by an electronic device, sounds emitted by loud speakers, musical sounds, natural sounds, artificial sounds, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , coupled with an electrocomponent, wherein at least one said electrocomponent is selected from the group consisting of signal generators, oscillators, capacitance sensing circuits, inductance sensing circuits, charging circuits, electronic leads, electric leads, receptacles, plugs, interfaces, terminal blocks, pickups, transducers, potentiometers, coils, cores, solenoids, permanent magnets, pole pieces, sensors, targets, actuators, microphones, dynamic microphones, condenser microphones, ribbon microphones, cardioid microphones, bi-directional microphones, optical microphones, emitters, electret microphones, drivers, dynamic drivers, magnetic drivers, electrostatic drivers, headphones, speakers, loud speakers, amplifiers, preamplifiers, transistors, field effect transistors, resonators, rectifiers, filters, inverters, converters, analog-digital converters, transformers, voltage measurements, digital measurement circuits, voltage regulators, compensations, power electronics, controllers, integrated circuits, control circuits, processors, inductors, capacitors, resistors, diodes, varactors, variable electrocomponents, switches, conductors, semiconductors, rechargeable power sources, source management systems, power supplies, electric motors, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device according to  claim 1 , coupled with a mechanocomponent, wherein at least one said mechanocomponent is selected from the group consisting of mechanical joints, receptacles, plugs, diaphragms, acoustic leads, waveguides, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device control method, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device for restoring lost functionality to a patient that suffers from at least partial loss of a limb, said device comprising a sound sensing system that communicates with a controller to generate a signal to control said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device;   giving one or more acoustic commands;   executing said one or more voice commands by means of said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device to perform one or more movements,   wherein the steps can be repeated.   
     
     
         13 . In a prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device for restoring lost functionality to a patient that suffers from at least partial loss of a limb, said device comprising a sound sensing system communicating with a controller generating a signal controlling said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device control method, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring contraction or stretching of at least part of said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device by means of an expanding sensor, said expanding sensor configured to include an expanding structure, wherein a changement in said expanding structure parameters can change a defined resonance frequency and/or harmonics thereof;   processing an information from said expanding sensor in a processor to determine a position of said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device.   
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device control method according to  claim 13 , wherein said expanding sensor is coupled with an electrocomponent and/or a mechanocomponent, to enhance a functionality of said prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device control method according to  claim 13 , wherein said expanding sensor includes a movable electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The prosthesis, orthosis or exoskeleton device control method according to  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of said expanding sensors form a sensitive array.